Pravritti & Nivritti

The result of ignorance (agyana) is action (pravritti). Ego motivated actions due to avidya are called pravritti.
The result of knowledge (jnana) is freedom from actions (nivritti).

Ignorance at intellectual level is desire; at mental level is thoughts and at physical level it is actions(ego driven)

Hari Om

Happiness vs Bliss

Namaste.  In our sayings and writings, we seem to mix the usage of the words 'happiness', 'joy' and 'bliss'  interchangeably to indicate similar meanings.  Though in a normal situation, this may be correct, there are subtle differences in the meanings.

The mental pleasures and satisfaction attained due to achievement of a sensory activity through the BMI layers is called Happiness.  For example, we are happy for getting an object of our liking or a reward or recognition from our contacts.   It is a state of less or no agitation of mind and the scale moves to the positive side of the mental state.

When  a situation that goes beyond our bodily and mental levels and provides us a positive  satisfaction intellectually, it is Joy.  Example - when you propose and devise a creative idea and it is implemented and found very productive,  you feel a joy that is unexplainable, though physically & mentally you may have gone through many turbulences to bring that idea to fruition.

When the mind attains a state of equilibrium where there are no specific reactions to the situations externally - when all 'raga dveshas' have ended, it is called bliss.
Sw. Chinmayananda says in verse 420 of Viveka Choodamani:  "When there is the experience of Self within, there is peace - the peace that passeth all understanding".  This peace is not because of any objects outside, but because of the very essential nature of the Self in us.   This is Bliss.

Hari Om

Sleep vs Samadhi

In Viveka Choodamani verse 408,  Bhagwan Adi Shankara talks about the root of the universe being the mind and dissolving the mind is the only option to avoid the pluralism of outside world.  Sw. Chinmayananda wonderfully explains it as below  

"The mind turned outwards and gushing out is chitta. The manifestation of the world is from chitta only. If you want pure bliss and beatitude of Brahman,  you have to end this world. In order to do so,  quieten the mind in the contemplation of the supreme self which is your inner most core. Sit down and consciously withdraw your mind as though in sleep and experience that stage where there is no object , emotion or thoughts.   That conscious sleep is called Samadhi.   

In real sleep, there is no perception of the outer world, and hence no mis-apprehension, there is nevertheless a binding non-apprehension.  When you consciously sleep, there is no bon-apprehension either , only a complete apprehension of Reality.     

Wow.  Excellent analysis from Gurudev.

Hari Om.

Shivakara and shavakara

Namaste.  In verse 397 of Viveka Choodamani,  Sri Adi Shankara very poetically refers to the framework of BMI which is perishable as 'Shavakara' (matter that is lifeless) compared to 'Shivakara' which means the embodiment of auspiciousness and is the supreme immovable substratum in us that is non-dual, everlasting Truth.    It is a wonderful poetic reference to these words of 'Shavakara' and 'Shivakara' which may sound similar but poles apart in concept and meaning.  Sw. Chinmayananda adds further to this explanation saying that if we identify ourselves with the Body, Mind, Intellect (BMI), we suffer due to the sorrows of five pain-ridden stages of birth, growth, disease, decay and death physically as well as the attachments, ego from the mind and intellect layers.  Whereas then associated with the unchangable supreme Brahman (Shivakara), we are liberated from all sufferings.

Hari Om.

Viveka Choodamani Verses: 388 & 389

Have been reading the past few weeks, on the jewels from Adi Shankara from his book Viveka Choodamani.  It is an amazing compendium on the essence of spirituality and needs deeper thinking and analysis (mananam).  

In verses 388 & 389, Adi Shankara explains very clearly and in simple words that Self is the ‘Tri-murtis’ and all Devatas that Self is everywhere (all directions). 

The verse 388 says that Self is the Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, which depicts the forces of creation, maintenance and dissolution of the universe.  It also says other powers such as Indra, Varuna etc. that symbolize nature is also the universal Self.  Everything in this cosmos is Self and nothing exists except the Self.  It goes as below.

स्वयं ब्रह्मा स्वयं विष्णुः स्वयमिन्द्रः स्वयं शिवः । 
स्वयं विश्वमिदं सर्वं स्वस्मादन्यन्न किंचन ॥ ३८८ ॥

svayaṃ brahmā svayaṃ viṣṇuḥ svayamindraḥ svayaṃ śivaḥ | 
svayaṃ viśvamidaṃ sarvaṃ svasmādanyanna kiṃcana || 388 ||

The next verse (389) is more powerful in its meaning.  Sri Shankara here says that Self is inside and outside as well as in all the directions.

अन्तः स्वयं चापि बहिः स्वयं च
स्वयं पुरस्तात्स्वयमेव पश्चात् । 
स्वयं ह्यावाच्यां स्वयमप्युदीच्यां
तथोपरिष्टात्स्वयमप्यधस्तात् ॥ ३८९ ॥

antaḥ svayaṃ cāpi bahiḥ svayaṃ ca
svayaṃ purastātsvayameva paścāt |
svayaṃ hyāvācyāṃ svayamapyudīcyāṃ
tathopariṣṭātsvayamapyadhastāt || 389 ||

Typically we understand the directions as four – N, E, W, S, but our scriptures indicate space ‘above’ and ‘below’ too as the other dimensions of the directions.  So Self is in all the directions as well as inside us too.

Hari Om.

Being 'Alone'

Namaste.  I have been reading on the wonderful and insightful book of 'VivekaChoodamani' by Bhagawan Adi Shankara.  There are many many verses that requires deep thinking and analysis ('mananam') in the book given by Sri Shankara in his inimitable style. For normal humans like us who have been battling the materialistic way of life,  these 'gems of discriminating intelligence' (Viveka Choodamani)  would have been impossible to grasp, if it were not deciphered and explained in common man's language and examples,  as done by Gurudev Sw. Chinmayananda.  My humble Pranaams to such great and divine masters.

One of the many verses in VivekaChoodamani where Sri. Shankara provides direct instruction to the reader on the preparatory steps ‘yogic meditation’ is below:

"Yogasya pratamadwaaram vangnirodhoaprigrahaha

Niraasha ch nireeha cha nithyamekanthaseelatha" 

In this verse explained beautifully by Gurudev, Sri Shankara instructs the Vedantic student the steps to control the sense-organs and the restless mind.

Yogasya Prtamadwaaram :  The first gateway to enter the portals of 'Yoga' life is

Vangnirodha:  Control of speech

Aparigrahaha: Non acceptance of possessions (materialistic)

Niraasha: Without keeping any expectations on the fruits of the actions

Nireesha:  Giving up all ego-centric activities;

Nityam Ekanthaseelatha: living 'alone' concentrated on the Brahman

The last step above is very significant and kind of confusing to normal folks. As Gurudev says,  there is a difference between being 'lonely' and being 'alone'.  Being 'lonely' is remaining in a physical sense with no other living beings around; where as being 'alone' is to remain mentally concentrated on the Supreme in-spite of the surroundings.  Alone is not in the surroundings, but it is in one's own attitude within the bosom; to remain with all attention ('eka-antham') fixed upon that one Unique Supreme Power (USP).  Think!

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha, Hari Om.